Character Design Studio

1. Character concept development. As in any other business, everything starts with an idea that needs to be expressed in a concept. At this stage, the foundation of the project is established. The initial step is the creation of sketches since it develops a plan for artists and game developers to follow. Having a sketch, the artist clearly envisions the project outcome and identifies the steps necessary for its attainment.
2. Detailing. After the storyboard is created, a detailed plan of the character design follows. The artist should think of every possible detail and depict it basing on the client’s vision and project idea. The main task is to create the skeleton for the game and ensure that all the important components are taken into account before the product is deployed.
3. Modeling. After the character of the game is ready, a 2D/3D modeler enters the process. Based on the resulting picture, he begins to create a three-dimensional model of the character. In animation, the process of preparing a character for animation is called rigging. It includes the creation and placement of the virtual “skeleton” of the character inside the three-dimensional model.
4. Rendering (for 3D). After the 3D character model of the game is created, it’s time for rendering. During this process, a 3D model is overlaid with colors, chiaroscuro, and textures. Different textures emphasize different elements of the character. For example, army clothing, scars, and weapons speak much about the military background of the character. All these details bring the character to life and create a story behind a hero.
5. Animation and delivery of the final product. 3D characters for games are more versatile than 2D characters. Once created, a character can be used many times. For example, for animation. The 3D-model of the character has pivot points to create a “bone” animation. Due to this, the animated model moves in a natural way. Character animation is not necessary and is done upon customer request. After all of the above stages are complete, the final product is analyzed by QA engineers and sent to the customer.

Today, there are many ways of hiring specialists – full-time employment, freelancing, outsourcing. Each of the engagement models has pros and cons – it’s totally up to you what to choose. But you should check every candidate thoroughly to reap the benefit of given options. Here you are the checklist that will help you hire a character artist for your project.

Firstly, define the role you’re hiring for. Is it a 2D or 3D character designer for hire? To do it quickly, you can make a list of the most important tasks you need help with. Also, think about what skills would serve this role best and how much experience is needed to complete your project successfully. Pay attention to the skill level as it may affect employee’s rates. That’s why your budget should be well-planned.

A clear job description and an in-depth interview will help you hire character artists who exactly fit your project. To make sure they’re all qualified, you can study a portfolio with previously completed artworks or give the task to conceptualize a character for a specific game. During a face-to-face interview, you can ask questions that will give you an idea of how potential candidates would interact with the rest of the staff or customers.

The good news is that today’s employers aren’t limited to candidates that live within a certain mile radius of an office location. Now character artists for hire can be found remotely. More and more companies prefer to hire highly-skilled art talent using outsourcing services. Thanks to modern technology and quick access to the internet, valuable experts are more available and affordable than ever before. Primarily, outsourcing is crucial when your own resources are limited. In this case, a character artist for hire from an outsourcing company can be a real find.

So, don’t waste time on completing character design tasks and outsource to a reputable service provider that can offer a skilled character designer for hire. Outsourcing gives you a wide pool of expertise you can choose from. By transferring responsibilities to external agencies, you can wash your hands of functions that are difficult to manage and control. Moreover, outsourcing can cut operational costs while reducing your own workload.

Besides, it is worth noting that outsourcing may serve as a time-saving function. While outsourced specialists are working on your project, and you are focusing on the core business processes, there are more guarantees to have a shorter time-to-market delivery. This greatly enhances your competitiveness and gives you an edge over your competitors. When you hire a character artist, you can be sure that the task will be completed. Mind it if you still hesitate to make the decision to outsource to character design services.